Refrigeration apparatus



F'JGLZ.

G. S. M CLOY REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1941 June 13, 1944.

INVENTORS GRAH M SJ'ISCLOY Patented June 13, 1944 REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Graham S. McCloy, Springfield, Mm, assignol' to Westinghouse Electric & Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.,

of Pennsylvania Manufacturing a corporation Application July 10, 1941, Serial No. 401,691

4 Claims. (01.62-103) This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus and more especially to the disposition of condensate in a domestic refrigerator of the mechanical type as distinguished from the ice-cooled refrigerator.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means for disposing of the condensate dripping from the cooling'unit of a mechanical refrigerator.

Another object is to provide a readily cleanable passage through the refrigerated food-storage chamber of a refrigerator for the condensate dripping from the cooling unit;

A further object of the invention is to provide an open passage for the-liquid condensate flowing through the food-storage chamber of a refrigerator, which passage is not readily obstructed by the comestibles in the food-storage chamber.

These and other objects are efiected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a domestic refrigerator with a large portion thereof broken away to show the embodimentof the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-Ill of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral l designates the outer shell of a refrigerator cabinet A horizontal partition l2 divides the cabinet into an upper compartment and a lower compartment 22. The upper compartment comprises an inner liner I3 spaced from the outer shell l0 and heat-insulating material l5 located between outer shell Ill. The front of the upper compartment is open to provide an access opening, and a heat-insulated door l6 supported on hinges I1 is provided for the opening. The inner liner l3 and the door It define a food-storage chamber l3, which chamber I3 is provided with shelves |3. An evaporator cooling unit 2| is located in the upper portion of the chamber l8 and is maintained at a temperature of approximately 20 F.

The lower compartment 22 contains the refrigerating machinery 23 which supplies the cooling unit 2| with a refrigerant liquid. The refrigerating apparatus 23 is of conventional design and will be described subsequently. The lower or machine compartment 22 comprises an air passage having an entrance opening 24 provided with a hinged grill 26 and an exit openthe inner liner and the" ing 21 in the rear wall of the compartment 22. A flow of air is established through this passage by the heat of the refrigerating machinery 23 when in operation.

The cooling unit 2| accumulates a layer of frost thereon which must be periodically removed, preferably by rendering the refrigerating machinery 23 inactive so that the frost on the cooling unit 2| may melt and run oil. A meat-storage receptacle 23 is supported immediately below the cooling unit on one of the shelves l9 and the cover of the meat-storage receptacle 20 is formed into a. tray 23 supported underneath the cooling unit 2| on two rods 23 which comprise portions of a shelf structure not otherwise shown in the drawing. The tray 23 is provided with a short nozzle 3| adjacent the bottom wall thereof on which a short rubber tip 30 is secured. The tip 30 extends into a'vertlcal groove 32 formed in the rear wall of the inner liner l3. The tip 30 preferably extends to the rear wall of the groove 32' so that the condensate flowing from the nozzle 3| runs down the. rear wall of the groove 32.

The groove 32 extends downwardly to the lower wall 33 of the inner liner l3 and a discharge nipple 34 is formed in the lower wall 33 at the base of the groove 32. The discharge nipple 34 communlcates with a tube 35 which may be connected to any convenient means for the disposal of water such as a drain or, as shown in this embodiment of the invention, to an open trough 31 which conducts the condensate into a pan 38 located in the path of the air flowing through the lower compartment 22.

It will be apparent fromthe above that the condensate dripping from the cooling unit 2| will drop into the tray 28 and thereupon flow through the nozzle 3|, down the rear wall of the groove 32 to the nipple 34, through the nipple 34, the tube 36, and the trough 31 to the pan 33. The groove 32 is relatively narrow so that comestibles placed on the shelves I9 are not readily pushed into the groove 32 and will, therefore, not be wetted by the' condensate running down the rear wall of the groove 32.

In the embodiment shown, the condensate conducted into the pan 38 will evaporate into the current of air flowing through the machine compartment 22. The groove 32 being open and the tray 28 being removable are readily cleaned. The pen 33 is also removable through the opening 24 for periodic removal of dust or food spillage. The pan 38 may be placed in heat exchange relationship with the casing 4| or with the conto the motor therein (not shown).

- fluid in a bulb 49.

denser 43 it fast evaporation of the condensate in th pan 38 is desired, since both the casing 4| and the evaporator 43 are heated during the operation of the refrigerating machinery 23. An alternative location of the pan is shown by dotted lines at 39, which location eliminates the use of a trough.

The refrigerating machinery 23 in the lower compartment 22 andthe remaining structure shown in Fig. 1 is of the compressor-condenser type and comprises a sealed casing in which a compressor and anelectric motor for driving the same are housed. Refrigerant vapor is withdrawn through a tube 42 from the evaporator 2|, is compressed by the compressor in the sealed casing 4|, and passed through a tube 44 to the upper portion of a vertical U-shaped plate condenser 43. The vapor passes downwardly through a tube 45 forming a part of the condenser 43, is condensed in the tube 45, and then passes upwardly through a capil lary'impedance tube 46 to the evaporator 2|, wherein it vaporizes and absorbs heat from the food-storage chamber l8. Both the casing 4| and the plate condenser 43 are heated during the operation of the compressor. The U-shaped plate condenser 43 forms an air duct 50, the lower end of which is closed by a plate 54. The duct 50 communicates with the opening 21 in the machine compartment 22 and acts as a chimney to draw ai-r therethrough and over the pan 38.

The electric power for the refrigerating machinery 23 is supplied through an electrical conduit 41 which passes through a thermostatic switch (not shown) in a housing 48 and thereafter through conduit 49 to the sealed casing 4| and The temperature-responsive switch (not shown) in the casing 48 is actuated by the pressure of a volatile The pressure of the volatile fluid is transmitted to the thermostatic switch through a tube 5|. The temperature at which the food-storage chamber 28 is maintained may. be adjusted by turning a wheel 52 on a shaft 53, which shaft communicates with the the'rmo static switch.

The above-described method of condensate disposal is adapted for use with a mechanical defrost clock which renders the refrigerating machinery inactive at intervals for defrosting the cooling unit 2|, such as a clock which renders the refrigerating machinery 23 inactive during a short period each night.

It will be apparent from the above that this invention provides a .simple and inexpensive means for the disposal of the condensate dripping from the cooling unit of a refrigerator and that it also provides a passage for the condensate through the refrigerated chamber, which passage is readily cleaned and which is not likely to be obstructed by comestibles placed in the refrigerator.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I'claim is:

1. Structure for removing condensate from a refrigerator having a food-storage chamber including a side wall, a cooling unit in the upper portion of said chamber, an open groove on the interior surface of said side wall extending downwardly from a point adjacent the cooling unit, means for conducting liquid condensate from said cooling unit to the groove at said point, and a drain communicating with the lower end of said groove, said groove extending in a substantially direct path along said side wall from said point to said drain, whereby condensate from said cooling unit flows downwardly in said groove to said drain.

2. Structure for removing condensate from a refrigerator having a food-storage chamber including a side wall, a cooling unit in the upper por- -tion of said chamber, a storage receptacle immediately below the cooling unit and a cover for said receptacle, said structure comprising an open groove on the interior surface of said side wall extending downwardly from a point adjacent-the cooling unit, means formed in said cover to conduct liquid condensate from said cooling unit to the groove at said point and a drain communicating with the lower end of said groove, said groove extending from said point to said drain, whereby condensate from said cooling unit flows downwardly in said groove to said drain.

3. Structure for removing condensate from a refrigerator having a storage compartment, a machine compartment below said storage compartment, and a cooling unit inthe upper portion of said storage compartment, said structure comprising a drip collector for catching moisture dripping from said cooling unit, a substantially vertical groove in the side wall of said foodstorage compartment, said groove being relatively narrow so that the possibility of entry of comestibles stored in said compartment into said groove is minimized, a drain for conducting the condensate in the drip collector to said groove, said machine compartment including a duct through which air passes, a pan in said duct, and an outlet in said storage compartment for conducting the condensate from said groove to said pan, the condensate evaporating into the air passing through said duct.

4. Structure for removing condensate from a refrigerator having a storage compartment, a machinecompartment below said storage coinpartment, and a cooling unit in the upper portion of said storage compartment, said structure comprising a drip collector for catching moisture dripping from said cooling unit, a substantially vertical groove inthe side wall of said food-storage compartment, said groove being relatively narrow so that the possibility of entry of comestibles stored in said compartment into said groove is minimized, a drain for conducting the condensate in the drip collector to the portion of the wall of said storage compartment formingv the deepest portion of said groove, said machine compartment including a duct through 

